Iran, Middle East's biggest crude steel producer in 2013: WSA

Iran was the biggest producer of crude steel in the Middle East in 2013, according to the World Steel Association's latest press release. Iran produced 15.4 million tons of crude steel in 2013, a 6.6 percent rise compared to 2012.

File Photo: Steel sheet factory in Ahvaz, Iran

The country's crude steel output stood at 1.35 million tons in December 2013, up 13.6 percent compared to December 2012, IRNA reported.

World crude steel production in 2013 amounted to 1.607 billion tons, an increase of 3.5 percent compared to 2012.

China, Japan, and the U.S. were the three biggest crude steel producers in 2013, with 779 million tons, 110 million tons, and 87 million tons of output, respectively.